Trump runs for reelection against California: 'The place is totally out of control'
Sacramento Bee's ALEXEI KOSEFF: "Inspecting prototypes for his proposed wall along the Mexican border during his first presidential visit to California on Tuesday afternoon, President Donald Trump couldn't resist getting in a few digs at the state."
"They have the highest taxes in the United States. The place is totally out of control. You have sanctuary cities where you have criminals living in the sanctuary cities," he said. "The governor's doing a terrible job running the state of California."
"His harsh message revealed nearly everything you need to know about what Trump thinks of California – and why the country's largest, and most proudly liberal, state may be his ticket back to the White House in 2020."
READ MORE related to Trump Goes to California: A combative Trump has busy day in California -- The Chronicle's JOHN WILDERMUTH; Trump uses visit to San Diego to bash California, Jerry Brown, Libby Schaaf -- The Chronicle's JOHN WILDERMUTH; Trump's visit draws fans cheering him to 'Make America Great Again' -- and foes venting their anger directly at him for first time -- LA Times's JOE MOZINGO/MELISSA ETEHAD/ANDREA CASTILLO
'Split roll,' the ghost of Prop. 13, haunts 2018
Capitol Weekly's LISA RENNER: "Months after President Trump slashed corporations’ federal tax rate, a coalition of progressive California groups is hoping to raise their property taxes."
"The Schools and Communities First Coalition, which includes the League of Women Voters, Evolve California and other organizations, is seeking signatures to put an initiative on the ballot that would institute a “split roll” property tax system. The initiative would tax corporations with more than $2 million in property holdings at market rates, while maintaining Proposition 13 property tax limits for small businesses and residences."
"The Legislative Analyst’s Office, the Legislature’s nonpartisan fiscal adviser, estimated that if approved, the split roll system would net local governments and schools an additional $6.5 billion to $10.5 billion in annual revenue most years."
North Bay fires fuel a population explosion in homeless camps
The Chronicle's KEVIN FAGAN: "Andreas Gunn reckons he had a pretty sweet life before Oct. 8. The 22-year-old was working a job he liked swabbing grease out of kitchens, lived with his uncle in the Santa Rosa subdivision of Coffey Park and was saving money for a car."
"Then came the Tubbs Fire, which took his uncle’s house and more than 4,600 others. Gunn’s job disappeared in days as his uncle, who was also his employer, moved out of town.
Today, Gunn lives in the broken-down RV he blew all $1,400 of his savings on after the fire so he could have a roof. He parks it on the south edge of town in a featureless spread of business parks, alongside 30 or so other RVs mostly belonging to fire survivors. Down the road are tent camps that held about 60 people before the disaster but now harbor 250."
READ MORE related to Housing & Homelessness: It's pricey to live in Southern California -- here's the proof -- SGV Tribune's KEVIN SMITH; $3 Million listing: Amid affordability crisis, sales of luxury homes double in the Bay Area -- BANG's KATY MURPHY
Breed gets her answer: SF Mayor Farrell won't commit to her policy priorities
The Chronicle's RACHEL SWAN: "Saying San Francisco needs to manage its money carefully, Mayor Mark Farrell did not commit Tuesday to funding two of Supervisor London Breed’s legislative priorities: wage increases for contract workers and free attorneys for residents facing eviction."
"Breed confronted Farrell during “Question Time,” the mayor’s monthly appearance before the board, which has become a rote ritual in which the mayor delivers a five-minute prepared speech. Breed’s budget question was the first since September 2016."
"Stung, Breed said she took Farrell’s lack of assurance to mean “no."
READ MORE related to Local Politics: London Breed's campaign buys ads on bus shelters -- oops, that's not allowed -- The Chronicle's RACHEL SWAN/DOMINIC FRACASSA
Stephen Hawking, science's brightest star, dies aged 76
The Guardian's IAN SAMPLE: "Stephen Hawking, the brightest star in the firmament of science, whose insights shaped modern cosmology and inspired global audiences in the millions, has died aged 76."
"His family released a statement in the early hours of Wednesday morning confirming his death at his home in Cambridge."
"Hawking’s children, Lucy, Robert and Tim, said in a statement: “We are deeply saddened that our beloved father passed away today. He was a great scientist and an extraordinary man whose work and legacy will live on for many years. His courage and persistence with his brilliance and humour inspired people across the world."
READ MORE related to Birth of a Supernova: Using his own quotes, Twitter gives a final tribute to Stephen Hawking -- Daily Bulletin's SHANNON O'CONNOR
What you need to know about Sacramento's student walkouts and how schools plan to react
Sacramento Bee's DIANA LAMBERT: "At Bella Vista High School in Fair Oaks, speakers will rally Wednesday morning in the school quad to call for immediate school safety changes."
"At Del Dayo Elementary School in Carmichael, students have the option of walking to the flagpole at 10 a.m. And at McClatchy High School in Sacramento, students will be joined by state Attorney General Xavier Becerra and other politicians at Becerra's alma mater."
"More than 30 schools in the Sacramento region are now expected to participate Wednesday in the National School Walkout, a 17-minute protest against gun violence in the wake of the massacre one month ago at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla."
READ MORE related to Gun Violence Pandemic: Sacramento mayor encourages students to leave class Wednesday to protest gun violence -- Sacramento Bee's RYAN LILLIS; Yountville killings shatter a young family -- The Chronicle's LIZZIE JOHNSON; Teacher accidentally fires gun during safety lecture at Monterey County high school -- LA Times's ALENE TCHEKMEDYIAN; 'All we want is for students to be heard,' says gun protest organizer at Parkland, Fla., high school -- LA Times's JENNY JARVIE; Grenade launchers, guns seized through unique California program -- Mercury News's ROBERT SALONGA
Boosted by storm, Sacramento's season rainfall approaches 70 percent of normal
Sacramento Bee's CATHY LOCKE: "The Sacramento region got a soaking Tuesday, ushering in four to five days of stormy weather, with few breaks forecast."
"Downtown Sacramento had received 0.72 inches of rain for the 24-hour period as of 5 p.m., and Sacramento Executive Airport had recorded 0.53 inches, said Karl Swanberg, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service."
"Tuesday's rainfall brought downtown Sacramento's season total to 11.21 inches, or 69 percent of the normal 16.13 inches, Swanberg said."
READ MORE related to Energy & Environment: Bay Area's wet weather starts heavy, expected to continue -- The Chronicle's SOPHIE HAIGNEY; 5 things companies can do to grow in a water-stressed world -- Water Deeply's WILL SARNI/PAUL REIG; As the Arctic melts, new technologies predict where sea ice will be -- Oceans Deeply's GLORIA DICKIE
California presses ahead with color-coded school reporting plan despite a dig from DeVos
LA Times's JOY RESMOVITS: "When Betsy DeVos spoke to a group of education leaders in Washington, D.C., last week about her dissatisfaction with states' efforts to satisfy a major education law, she gave California a subtle shout-out."
"One state, the Education secretary said, "took a simple concept like a color-coded dashboard and managed to make it nearly indecipherable."
Got a pot charge on your record? After Prop. 64, the county can help you with that
Sacramento Bee's ELLEN GARRISON: "Yolo County's district attorney and public defender are collaborating to help people purge their records of pot-related offenses."
"In addition to legalizing recreational marijuana use in California, Proposition 64 retroactively reduced penalties for many marijuana-related crimes."
"Yolo County's DA and public defender announced Tuesday they will begin proactively reducing and eliminating convictions, following the lead of district attorneys elsewhere in the state."
Single-payer bill all but dead this year as California lawmakers craft new health package
Sacramento Bee's ANGELA HART: "California Democratic lawmakers are quietly working on a package of up to 20 health care bills that would soften the political blow from the all-but-certain death of a single-payer universal care bill this year."
"Senate Bill 562 cleared the Senate last year but stalled in the Assembly when Speaker Anthony Rendon blasted it as "woefully incomplete." The legislation still lacks a plan to cover its $400 billion price tag, a way to control rising health care costs and a strategy to secure federal waivers needed from the Trump administration."
"Rendon has not formally killed the bill, but he told The Sacramento Bee earlier this month that a fresh health care package is in the works – the clearest sign yet that Senate Bill 562 is dead."
Long fight over SF cops carrying Tasers heats up again
The Chronicle's EVAN SERNOFFSKY: "The long debate over whether San Francisco police officers should carry Tasers has ended, only to be replaced by a similarly contentious dispute over how the city should regulate use of the electroshock weapons."
"A pivotal step in the rollout of the devices comes Wednesday when the Police Commission is scheduled to discuss — and possibly adopt — a Taser policy drafted by the Police Department after it convened several community working groups."
"Crucially, the commission is also scheduled to vote whether to formally oppose a measure on the city’s June ballot, put forth by the pro-Taser police officers’ union, that would establish its own less restrictive guidelines for when the stun guns may be deployed."
READ MORE related to Prisons & Public Safety: Rookie San Francisco cop who fatally shot carjacking suspect fired -- The Chronicle's SARAH RAVANI
Ferry Building's unique profile: The story behind the photo
The Chronicle's JESSICA CHRISTIAN: "Capturing a new view of the Ferry Building isn’t easy."
"The culinary mecca standing tall along the Embarcadero is one of San Francisco’s most visible landmarks, and The Chronicle’s archive has hundreds of images made by talented photographers through the years."
"When I got the assignment to shoot the Ferry Building for the 15th anniversary of its renovation, I set out to highlight its commanding presence as the centerpiece of the waterfront. I planned to showcase the tower, the wings stretching from it, and the bustle of visitors moving in, out and around it."
READ MORE related to Transportation: SF Muni's new light-rail cars are different -- and riders like them -- The Chronicle's MICHAEL CABANATUAN; This San Gabriel bridge will be replaced over two years at a cost of $8.9M -- SGV Tribune's CHRISTOPHER YEE
Fox News sued by parents of Seth Rich, slain DNC staffer, over conspiracy theory about his death
WaPo's MEAGAN FLYNN: "The parents of Seth Rich — the Democratic National Committee staffer police believe was murdered during a botched robbery in 2016 — have sued Fox News over a retracted story that peddled a conspiracy theory about his murder, claiming the network “intentionally exploited” the tragedy for political purposes."
"The May 2017 story stated, falsely, that investigators had evidence showing Rich leaked thousands of DNC emails to WikiLeaks in the midst of the 2016 presidential election, just weeks before he was shot to death in Washington. That story line — popular among conspiracy theorists and in far-right online groups — contradicts U.S. intelligence that Russia was behind the WikiLeaks email dump that damaged Hillary Clinton’s campaign."
"Fox’s story fell apart quickly after the FBI pointed out that a “federal investigator” and “FBI report” referenced in the story as sources did not exist. The second core source in the story, private investigator and Fox contributor Rod Wheeler, claimed the Fox reporter fabricated his quote saying he had evidence of emails between Rich and WikiLeaks. He has since sued the network for defamation. (Fox News has denied all his claims.)"
After embarrassing election in Pennsylvania, Republicans wonder whether tax cuts will save them in November
LA Times's CATHLEEN DECKER: "The most dangerous outcome for Republicans in Tuesday's special House election is not the prospect of a Democrat taking over one of their seats."
"It was the shrugging off by voters of the party's biggest legislative achievement: the tax cut measure that Republicans hoped would be their major campaign message as they head toward a turbulent midterm election."
